NOM

I have a friend who is a civilian mechanical engineer working for the Air Force, and is presenting research at a conference in my mission in Japan. She had invited me to come for the past year and a half, but I just didn't see how I could make it work monetarily. Well over the weekend I was giving her advice about where to go, where to eat, etc., and she invited me again offering to let me stay with them. I asked my dad about it and he looked at his airline points, and got me a ticket (business class!) and a room at the Marriott for a week. I'm so excited!

Anyway, I've been texting with this friend back and forth suggesting where we should stay in Tokyo for the last day and a half, and what we should do. Well suddenly she suggests that we spend the last half a day (on a Sunday) going to church and seeing the temple.

When I was a missionary, I was totally "majime" (by the book, serious). I felt anxiety about not wasting a single second on things other than missionary work. We were limited to two hours of service a week, and one return to the apartment for a meal per day. And I suffered a lot of guilt over the desire to actually enjoy the country. To do cultural things. To study written Japanese too much. In my last area and my last mission conference, I was in a city on the Sea of Japan that had one of the three most important Japanese gardens in the country. The mission president told us to go straight home after the conference. Well I decided to see that garden. And I felt some guilt about it.

Now that I know what I know, I see so many lost opportunities. I'm a musician. I should have spent more time on traditional Japanese music (for example). My friend doesn't know about my disaffection, but I'll be d@*%$& if I should spend that half a day going to church instead of seeing Japan.

I would appreciated any thoughts.

You went on your mission to Japan? Just say, "I spent two years going to church in this country and didn't get to enjoy the culture as much as I could as a result. I'm going to focus on Japan and not church on this trip." I think even a TBM could reasonably take that stance.

Enoch Witty wrote: ↑Wed Apr 26, 2017 7:15 am You went on your mission to Japan? Just say, "I spent two years going to church in this country and didn't get to enjoy the culture as much as I could as a result. I'm going to focus on Japan and not church on this trip." I think even a TBM could reasonably take that stance.

I agree with this approach. I'd also add that you are totally fine with and understand if they still want to attend church and you can just meet up afterwards. Is there any reason that the two of you have to stay together and both do the same thing?

I've been fortunate to return to Japan several times for work. I haven't attended the church or the temple once in all of those visits, even when I still believed. My thought was that I could get the same temple ceremony any time I wanted at home, so why waste precious time in Japan sitting through the boring ceremony? Same with church meetings. I was there with someTBM coworkers on one trip, and a few of them opted to do a temple session on the Saturday we were there instead of going with our hosts to visit a historic attraction. I thought they were crazy.

As an unbeliever, Japan is a lot more fun now.

As far as a place to stay in Tokyo, search in one of those discout booking sites like Travelocity or Expedia. You'll get lots of choices

Interesting things to see in Tokyo (I love Tokyo):
Asakusa Kannon temple - A very popular site to visit, and it will be crowded if you go on a weekend. Still worth seeing even with the crowd.
Tokyo Sky Tree - Just one subway stop away from the Asakusa temple above. World's tallest free-standing tower, and currently the second tallest man-made structure. If the air is clear enough the view is awesome. Kind of pricey, though.
Tokyo Tower - Previously the tallest tower in Tokyo. Not as pricey as Sky Tree, but you can still get a decent view of the city if the air is clear.
Shinjuku Gyoen - This is a beautiful park that has three areas done in Japanese, English and French styles.
Meiji Jingu shrine - Another beautiful area to visit. It's at one end of an avenue named Omotesando. Lots of places to shop if you're into that.
Akihabara - the electronic district of Tokyo. It's fun to go just to see all of the technology.
Emporer's Palace grounds - You won't be able to get into the inner grounds, but it's interesting to walk around the perimeter of the grounds (it's about a 3 mile route) to see the stone walls and vegetation.

Let me know if you want more info.

First of all I just want to say omedeto that you get to return to Japan.

My thoughts FWIW are to graciously visit together without committing to attending church. As the week progresses you will get the right opportunity to decide what to do.

It might even be interesting to see what church is like there now you have a different perspective.


I agree though that we missed out on the opportunity to explore a unique country and culture because we were too busy selling something they didn't need.

Ki o tsukete ne.

Enoch Witty wrote: ↑Wed Apr 26, 2017 7:15 am You went on your mission to Japan? Just say, "I spent two years going to church in this country and didn't get to enjoy the culture as much as I could as a result. I'm going to focus on Japan and not church on this trip." I think even a TBM could reasonably take that stance.

Maybe take the opportunity to visit a Shinto, Buddhist, or other Japanese temple. If you are going to travel half way around the world, why go to a church that is exactly the same as one a few blocks from your house?

Claim that Sunday is Saturday by using time zones!

ulmite wrote: ↑Wed Apr 26, 2017 4:11 pm Claim that Sunday is Saturday by using time zones!

So, yeah, this is hilarious.

AllieOop wrote: ↑Wed Apr 26, 2017 7:31 am I agree with this approach. I'd also add that you are totally fine with and understand if they still want to attend church and you can just meet up afterwards. Is there any reason that the two of you have to stay together and both do the same thing?

I'm just going to be honest with her that I probably won't get back to Japan for a while, and I can go to church/see the temple any time I want in Utah. She'll be back in October for work again, anyway, so she can definitely go then. I'm just going to give them directions and part ways for the morning.

dareka wrote: ↑Wed Apr 26, 2017 7:54 am Interesting things to see in Tokyo (I love Tokyo):

So after doing a little bit of research online a few days ago, I decided we should stay in Taitou-Ku near Asakusa. We'll go through the Thunder Gate and Treasure House Gate, and see Sensou Temple. I'll make sure we bring lots of 5 yen coins to pick up o-mikuji fortunes (and hopefully no curses). We'll push through the Nakamise, looking at the shops and trying different foods.

I will be a Saturday afternoon, but maybe the crowds will make it more fun. Besides, we're a bunch of big gaijins, so we'll make our way through OK.

I'll see if they want to go up the SkyTree. I'm fine either way. It's across the Sumida River--it seems like there is a train over to the tower.

I'll also find out if they want to go to Akihabara that night and watch the freaks down there.

I am actually more attracted to the pure Japanese gardens, and was thinking about the Koishikawa Korakuen park.

I looked at getting into the Imperial Grounds. We have to sign up and send them our info (I guess to make sure we're not dangerous). We'll take the shinkansen up from Nagoya in the morning, so we'll just get off, put our things in lockers, and head over to the Palace for the 10 am tour. If not, there are plenty of other things to see.

I'll have to write about my planning process. I'm very excited.